The Kansas City Chiefs ran over the Denver Broncos in a 31-10 win on Monday Night Football to wrap up Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season. KC totaled 221 rushing yards on the night, with 173 yards coming from Kenneth Walker.
The night got off to a rough start for Denver quarterback Bo Nix, who was making his return after a broken ankle in the divisional round of last season's NFL playoffs in January. Nix was sacked on the game's opening play, then he threw an interception two plays later. Following that turnover, the Chiefs went 46 yards on 10 plays and took an early 7-0 lead with quarterback Patrick Mahomes' 15-yard touchdown run.
Nix initially bounced back on the Broncos' next series, leading a seven-play, 68-yard drive that ended with his 19-yard
touchdown pass to tight end Evan Engram that tied the game up at 7-7.
First of the year for @eazyengram 🙌
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) September 15, 2026
📺: ESPN pic.twitter.com/fmBoF8j0fS
After that score, Denver and Kansas City exchanged six punts before the Chiefs had a 10-play, 80-yard drive that ended with Mahomes' 13-yard touchdown pass to Rashee Rice to give KC a 14-7 lead with under two minutes before halftime. That score featured some poor tackling efforts from Broncos defenders Riley Moss and Jonah Elliss. After that, the Broncos got the ball back at their own 34-yard line with 1:33 remaining, but they were unable to score before the half.
In the third quarter, Walker bounced a run outside on 4th-and-1 and rushed for a 60-yard touchdown, breaking tackle attempts from Moss and safety Brandon Jones on his way to taking a 21-7 lead.
Later in the third quarter, Jones secured an interception and returned it to KC's five-yard line. After a (questionable) holding penalty on Pat Bryant and a Nix fumble, Denver was backed up to the 16-yard line. On 3rd-and-goal from that spot, Nix rushed for three yards, then kicker Wil Lutz converted a 31-yard field goal to make it 21-10 midway through the third.
On the Chiefs' next possession, tight end Travis Kelce caught a pass, broke an attempted tackle from Ja'Quan McMillian and rumbled 59 yards to set up a 28-yard Harrison Butker field goal to extend the lead to 24-10 late in the third. Nix lost a fumble on the Broncos' ensuing drive, which set up another Walker touchdown run that made it 31-10 early in the fourth, and that ended up being the game's final score.
Up next, the Broncos will host the Jacksonville Jaguars (1-0) at home in Week 2 on Sept. 20. Jacksonville's coming off a 34-10 win over Cleveland on Sunday.
Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X!
This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Broncos embarrassed in 31-10 loss to Chiefs on 'MNF' in Week 1
